SEC Football Snapshots: Vanderbilt Commodores hoping for any sort of positivity
College football is almost back, and we're previewing the SEC in preparation for the 2024 season. We just looked at Texas A&M, and at long last, we conclude our team previews with the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Can the SEC's doormat program find anything to be positive about this fall? Well, they might have someone worth watching under center.
Examining the Vanderbilt Commodores' offense
Can Diego Pavia be the savior for Vanderbilt football? That's what people in Nashville are hoping for. The New Mexico State-transfer QB was a fun, fiery, sometimes erratic, but mostly productive player for the Aggies, and the hope is he can be the spark necessary to lift up this program.
He'll have to do some heavy lifting though, as there's not much around him. Leading rusher Sedrick Alexander returns, though his '23 production wasn't lofty. The best receivers depart, so WRs Junior Sherrill and Quincy Skinner will need to take another step forward. There is more experience along the OL, however, which can only help.
Examining the Vanderbilt Commodores' defense
Defense is supposed to be Clark Lea's calling-card, but that hasn't shown in Nashville, which is certainly not all his fault given how impossible it is to bring talent into the program. Regardless, they've been awful, but they might show some improvements in '24.
There's lots of experience along the DL, and Purdue-transfer DE Khordae Sydnor should help provide some pass rush. Leading tackler Langston Patterson returns at LB. Vandy brings back starting safeties De'Rickey Wright and CJ Taylor, and Wyoming-transfer Kolbey Taylor should slide in at one of the top CB spots.
Thoughts on the Vanderbilt Commodores entering 2024
Look, Diego Pavia is a lot of fun, but I'm not sure he's enough to elevate the almost total void of offensive talent that surrounds him. And while marginal improvements could happen defensively, we're still talking about what is likely the worst group in the conference.
The schedule doesn't provide more than three likely wins. It's just an impossible situation, and unfortunately for Clark Lea, his time coaching his alma mater is probably coming to a close in the near future.